Forca del Mugnol

Overview

Forca del Mugnol is a climb that refuses to make excuses for itself. Over just 9 km it averages a savage 13.29%, launching from a start elevation of 686 m and topping out at 1885 m. That is a net gain of 1199 m packed into a single-digit distance — the kind of ratio that puts a climb firmly in the hors catégorie bracket. There is no warm-up here, no gentle approach to ease the legs into the work. From the moment the road tilts, the number that matters is the one under your wheels, and it stays uncomfortably high the whole way up.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of this climb is relentlessness. An average of 13.29% is not a figure softened by long flat sections and one dramatic wall — it is the product of a road that simply keeps pointing skyward. The steepest pitch reaches 20.78%, more than seven points above an already merciless average, so expect ramps where the front wheel feels light and cadence collapses. The total ascent of 1151 m sits just below the net gain of 1199 m, telling you there is almost no respite: the road climbs nearly every metre it covers, with barely any descending or false-flat recovery to break the rhythm. Treat every kilometre as a fresh commitment.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this steep, pacing is survival. The gradient dictates your effort far more than your ambition does, so the goal is to hold a sustainable output rather than chase a number. Anchor your effort to your FTP and resist the urge to spike over it on the early ramps — with 9 km of this ahead, going into the red near the 686 m base will cost you dearly before the 1885 m summit. Ride in surges only where the gradient forces it, and settle immediately after. If you are unsure of your threshold, the FTP estimator will give you a working figure to plan around. The 20.78% pitches are where riders blow up; approach them already sitting a touch under threshold so the ramp lifts you to your limit rather than past it.

Gearing

Do not underestimate what 13.29% for 9 km demands from your drivetrain. A compact 34-tooth chainring is the minimum sensible front, and at the back you want the biggest cassette you can fit. A 34×32 is the floor for strong climbers who can grind, but for most riders a 34×34 one-to-one ratio is the smarter choice, giving you a spinning gear when the road hits 20.78%. If your bike accepts an even larger sprocket, take it — there are no style points on an HC climb, only the ones you finish. Lower gearing protects your knees and keeps your cadence alive across the full 1199 m of climbing.

Summary

Forca del Mugnol is a pure test: short, savagely steep, and unforgiving from base to summit. Respect the average, fear the max, and gear low.

Length: 9 km
Average gradient: 13.29%
Max gradient: 20.78%
Start: 686 m
Summit: 1885 m
Net gain: 1199 m
Total ascent: 1151 m
Category: HC